BABL AI
Independent AI auditor that certifies systems against published criteria
What is BABL AI?
BABL AI was founded in 2018 in Iowa City by astrophysicist turned auditor Shea Brown, a founding member of the International Association of Algorithmic Auditors. It runs independent, criteria-based audits and certifications, starting with automated hiring tools and now covering EU AI Act risk management. It also trains auditors through its own courses. The firm is small, and its strength is a clean separation between whoever built the system and whoever checks it.
BABL AI works primarily with clients in Human resources tech, Financial services, Healthcare, Technology sectors. Its primary differentiator is: Criteria-based third-party AI audits, separate from any design or build work.
BABL AI tech stack and services
| Service area |
|---|
| AI Audit & Assurance |
| EU AI Act Classification |
| Impact & Ethics Assessment |
| AI Training & Literacy |
BABL AI pricing
Short answer: BABL AI prices its work as follows: audit fees per system; rates on request. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed; a discovery call is required.
| Engagement model | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Audit or certification | Fixed fee per system | An outside check on AI already built |
| Fixed-scope assessment | Fixed fee; quoted per scope | One or a few use cases, checked before any build |
BABL AI pros and cons
| Advantages | Things to consider |
|---|---|
| +Audits only, with no system design to protect | -Small firm with limited capacity |
| +Experience with bias audits of hiring tools | -US-based, with less European presence |
| +Trains and certifies auditors | -Doesn't help pick or plan use cases |
BABL AI vs alternatives
How BABL AI compares to the other top AI Advisory firms.
| Company | Best for | Key difference | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPMG | Regulated firms needing audit-grade AI governance. | Governance and assurance depth, backed by its own ISO/IEC 42001-certified AI management system | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Tensorway | COOs and CFOs wanting a vendor-neutral AI plan. | Two-interview method per use case, a written drop list, and a roadmap another vendor can implement | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| PwC | Multinationals mapping AI Act duties with other EU... | EU AI Act compliance planned alongside DORA, GDPR, and NIS2 in one program | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| appliedAI | German industrial firms seeking neutral AI guidance. | Advice from a German AI ecosystem with a non-profit institute focused on AI Act practice | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| Deloitte | Large regulated groups needing documented AI controls. | Regulatory and audit teams beside the AI advisers, with global reach | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Trilateral Research | Public bodies needing rights and ethics assessments. | Fundamental rights and ethics impact assessments from a research-led firm | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| EY | Enterprises building AI risk into existing controls. | AI risk work folded into existing technology risk and controls programs | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| DAIN Studios | Nordic and DACH firms wanting governance they own. | Governance and readiness work designed to be run by the client's own team | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Artefact | Large consumer brands across European markets. | Data governance and AI planning with engineers in the same firm | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Gartner | CIOs and CDOs choosing AI vendors. | Analyst advice on AI vendors and governance with no implementation work to sell | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| TÜV SÜD | Firms wanting an independent AI Act assessment. | Independent testing and certification of AI systems against EU AI Act requirements | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| Sia Partners | Utilities and insurers wanting regulatory-minded advice. | Sector regulatory practices applied to AI governance, plus its own Heka.ai tools | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| BearingPoint | European banks pairing AI with regulatory reporting. | European consulting with regulatory technology products from the same group | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| PA Consulting | UK public bodies wanting advice plus delivery. | Advice from teams that also design and build, strong in UK government | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Zühlke | Swiss and European health and finance firms. | Partner-owned advisory and engineering for regulated health and finance work | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| ML6 | Benelux firms wanting advice from builders. | Use-case discovery from engineers who also handle EU AI Act requirements | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Eticas | Public bodies auditing deployed algorithms. | Independent algorithmic audits that measure bias and accuracy in real use | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Advai | UK financial firms testing AI before launch. | Technical robustness testing, chosen by the FCA as partner for its AI Live Testing pilot | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Futurice | Nordic firms redesigning services around AI. | AI strategy combined with service design and operating-model work | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Knowit | Nordic public authorities wanting a local partner. | Nordic public-sector reach with data governance and AI under one roof | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Saidot | Teams wanting AI inventory software with setup help. | Governance software for AI inventories and risk tracking, integrated with Azure AI | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| West Monroe | US COOs targeting operating-cost gains. | Operations and cost-led AI advice from a partly employee-owned firm | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Elder Research | US agencies wanting a data feasibility check. | Feasibility calls grounded in three decades of hands-on modeling | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Ekimetrics | CFOs who want AI tied to measured returns. | Return-on-investment measurement for marketing and sustainability AI | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Slalom | North American firms wanting local consultants. | Local-office consultants for AI governance and operating models | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Thoughtworks | CTOs judging build-or-buy on AI tooling. | Public Technology Radar and engineering-led build-or-buy advice | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Centric Consulting | Mid-size US firms writing AI usage policies. | Acceptable-use policies and staff adoption programs for generative AI | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| RTS Labs | Small US firms testing one idea cheaply. | The cheapest entry point here, with feasibility tests in place of strategy decks | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| Future Processing | European mid-size firms on a modest budget. | AI readiness checks at published Central European rates | 3.7 | Full comparison |
BABL AI FAQ
What is BABL AI?
Independent AI auditor that certifies systems against published criteria
How much does BABL AI charge?
Pricing model: audit fees per system; rates on request. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. A discovery call is required to get project-specific quotes.
What tech stack does BABL AI use?
BABL AI works with EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, NYC Local Law 144. Primary industries served include Human resources tech, Financial services, Healthcare, Technology.
Is BABL AI right for enterprise?
Best for: companies needing an independent third-party AI audit. Team size: 1–50. Key consideration: Small firm with limited capacity.
What are the best BABL AI alternatives?
The best alternatives to BABL AI depend on your use case. Top options are:
- KPMG: governance and assurance depth, backed by its own ISO/IEC 42001-certified AI management system
- Tensorway: two-interview method per use case, a written drop list, and a roadmap another vendor can implement
- PwC: EU AI Act compliance planned alongside DORA, GDPR, and NIS2 in one program
Compare BABL AI with other AI Advisory firms
Verify all details directly with BABL AI before making a decision.